Friesian Sporthorse Association
Registration Guidelines
The Friesian Sporhorse Association is the official registry of the Friesian Sporthorse and the only registry dedicated exclusively to recognizing and promoting the true Friesian Sporthorse.
Friesian Sporthorses must be 25% - 99% Friesian heritage.
(Exception -- the Friesian Warmblood Book, see below.) Purebred Friesians (horses of 100% Friesian heritage), including B Book I & II, are registered in the Foundation Book.
To be eligible for registration and entrance into the international Friesian Sporthorse studbook, horses must meet certain minimum pedigree requirements. Horses which are unable to meet those requirements (but which can prove they have a minimum 25% Friesian blood) may still be issued a Certificate of Pedigree.
Registration - Breeding Approval
Mare Predicates - Performance Elite Books
Bloodlines Verification & DNA Testing
Status Updates / Registration Certificates - Microchips
General Policy & Fairness Information
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Registration
Breeding Approval
Mare Predicates
Performance Elite Books
Bloodlines Verification & DNA Testing
Status Updates / Registration Certificates
Microchips
General Policy & Fairness Information
Registration is divided into the following books:
Main Book, Auxiliary Book, Friesian Warmblood Book, and Foundation Book.
Main Book -- Must be able to prove (via pedigrees) a minimum of three consecutive generations of sport breeding / pedigree, and is subject to pedigree review. Sire and Dam must be one of the following or a cross thereof: Friesian, Warmblood, Thoroughbred, Georgian Grande, Andalusian/Lusitano/PRE, Knabstrupper, Main Book registered Friesian Sporthorses, Auxiliary Book Friesian Sporthorse mares who are registered in the Bronze Elite Book or higher, and/or any Friesian Sporthorses Approved for Breeding.
Main Book horses are further eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status.
Auxiliary Book -- Must be able to prove a minimum of three consecutive generations of sport breeding / pedigree, with the following allowances: Maximum 50% Saddlebred or Dutch Harness Horse. Maximum 25% draft or Arabian. Offspring of any Auxiliary Book horses, or any Elite Book horses, which is otherwise not eligible for the Main Book, is eligible for the Auxiliary Book. Auxiliary Book horses are further eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status.
Friesian Warmblood Book -- Must be able to prove a minimum of three consecutive generations of Friesian and/or Warmblood and/or Thoroughbred and/or Iberian and/or Main Book breeding / pedigree. Knabstrupper blood may also be accepted into the Friesian Warmblood Book pending pedigree review. The Friesian Warmblood Book is for horses with 12.5% - 24.99% Friesian blood, and 87.5% - 75.01% Warmblood and/or Thoroughbred blood and/or Iberian and/or Main Book Friesian Sporthorse and/or Knabstrupper blood (pending pedigree review.) Friesian Warmblood Book horses are further eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status.
Foundation Book -- Purebred Friesian stallions and mares which are being used for sporthorse crossbreeding. Foundation Book horses are further eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status.
Certificate of Pedigree -- Horses which fail to meet registration criteria for the Main, Auxiliary, or Foundation Books at the time of registration may still be issued a Certificate of Pedigree. COP horses are eligible for Bronze Elite, Silver Elite, and Gold Elite status. COP horses still MUST be able to prove a minimum 25% Friesian heritage.
Approved for Breeding:
Approved for Breeding (Stallions) -- Minimum three generation pedigree. All Approved for Breeding horses must meet the pedigree requirements of either the Main Book, the Auxiliary Book, the Friesian Warmblood Book, or the Foundation Book. All Approved for Breeding horses must have their DNA on file with the Friesian Sporthorse Association. To be fully Approved for Breeding the horse must have a minimum inspection score or in-hand score of 73% AND must meet at least one of the performance criteria for Silver or Gold Elite Book status. Stallions which pass the FPZV stallion testing, or are approved with an accepted WBFSH recognized registry, will be automatically eligible to be Approved for Breeding.
Provisional Approval (Stallions) -- Minimum three generation pedigree. All stallions applying for Provisional Approval must meet the pedigree requirements of either the Main Book, the Auxiliary Book, the Friesian Warmblood Book, or the Foundation Book. Stallions which have earned an inspection or in-hand score of 75% or higher, at the age of 2 1/2 or older, may be Provisionally Approved for Breeding. Likewise, stallions which have met the performance criteria to be Approved for Breeding (Silver or Gold Elite Book status) but which have not yet met the inspection criteria may be provisionally Approved for Breeding.
Approved for Breeding (Mares) -- Mares must meet the requirements of the Main Book, Auxiliary Book, Friesian Warmblood Book, or Foundation Book, and have their DNA on file with the FSA, in order to be Approved for Breeding. They must have a minimum Bronze Elite status or must have produced at least one Bronze Elite offspring.
Mare Predicates:
Star Mares -- Star mare status recognizes quality mares who have accomplished one of the following at the age of 3-years-old or older. (Star mares must also meet the pedigree requirements of either the Main Book, Auxiliary Book, Friesian Warmblood Book, or Foundation Book.)
- Inspection or in-hand score of 77% or higher
- Two (2) dressage scores of 65% or higher earned at First Level or higher
- Materiale score of 70% or higher
- Earned Silver Elite Book status
Preferred Mares: Preferred mare status recognizes mares who pass their quality on to their offspring.
To be eligible for Preferred status, mares must meet one of the following requirements:
- Four (4) or more offspring in the Bronze Elite Book or higher, or
- Two (2) or more offspring in the Silver Elite Book or higher.
Performance Elite Books:
The Performance Books are divided into Bronze, Silver, and Gold Elite.
All horses are eligible for the Performance Books. To be eligible for the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Elite Books, the horse must meet the following criteria:
Bronze Elite:
Performance requirements for Bronze Elite registration (one of the following):
- Dressage: USDF recognized Open classes, minimum score of 65% at Training Level Test 2 or higher, or minimum score of 62% at First Level Test 2 or higher.
- USDF DSHB In-hand classes (Open): score above 73%
- Inspection score from a recognized sporthorse breed registry inspection: score above 73%
- Combined Driving (ADS recognized competitions): Training level or above, maximum 50 penalties dressage, without elimination or retirement or withdrawal.
- Eventing (USEA recognized): Novice level or above, with maximum 45 dressage penalties, no elimination, withdrawal, or retirement.
Silver Elite:
Performance Requirements for Silver Elite registration (one of the following):
- Dressage: USDF recognized Open classes, minimum score of 62% at Third Level, or a minimum score of 60% or higher at Fourth Level.
- USDF In-hand classes or Inspection scores: not applicable. (Silver Elite Book status may not be earned on in-hand or inspection scores alone.)
- Combined Driving (ADS recognized competitions): Preliminary level or above, maximum 50 penalties dressage, without elimination or retirement or withdrawal.
- Eventing (USEA recognized): Preliminary level (or higher) with maximum 45 dressage penalties, no elimination, withdrawal, or retirement.
- Foundation Book / purebred Friesian stallions who've earned the "sport" predicate from FHANA / FPS are eligible for the FSA's Silver Elite Book.
Gold Elite:
Performance Requirements for Gold Elite registration (one of the following):
- Dressage: USDF recognized Open classes, minimum score of 60% at Intermediare or higher, or minimum score of 58% at Grand Prix.
- USDF In-hand classes or Inspection scores: not applicable. (Gold Elite Book status may not be earned on in-hand or inspection scores alone.)
- Combined Driving (ADS recognized competitions): Intermediate level or above, maximum 50 penalties dressage, without elimination or retirement or withdrawal.
- Eventing (USEA recognized): Intermediate Level (or higher) with maximum 50 dressage penalties, no elimination, withdrawal, or retirement.
*Inspection and in-hand scores: In-hand scores must be earned at USEF recognized competitions in USDF DSHB classes. Inspection scores must be from FSA inspections or breed registry inspections from accepted registries which are members of the WBFSH.
Bloodline Verification, DNA Testing, and Breeder's Certificates:
Bloodlines must be verified by supplying copies of registration papers of both parents along with a signed Breeder's Certificate or other similar document signed by the owner of the horse's sire and dam, to verify the breeding, OR by supplying copies of previously issued registration papers from any WBFSH recognized registry or any legitimate Friesian registry (Dutch, German, or their American counterparts.) If registration papers from lower tier registries (such as FSHR, FBHR, AFA, etc) are submitted additional DNA testing may be required and/or a disclaimer may be included on the FSA registration papers.
All mares, fillies, stallions, and ungelded colts registered in the USA must have DNA on file with the FSA. Only geldings are exempt from mandatory DNA testing (DNA testing is still highly recommended.) DNA testing may be done privately thru the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory if it includes parentage verification and a copy of the DNA marker report is submitted to the FSA along with the Registration Application. Or, if the horse's DNA is already on file with another registry a copy of that DNA marker report may be submitted to the FSA if the DNA testing was done at UC Davis. Or you may opt to have the FSA handle the processing of your horse's DNA (a copy of your horse's DNA marker report will be sent to you with your horse's FSA Registration Certificate.)
DNA testing is not required for geldings.
Note: Friesian parentage DNA verification may be required for participation in some IFSHA sanctioned events.
A DNA marker report must be on file with the FSA prior to a horse being Approved for Breeding.
If the pedigree is not 100% known, the horse may still be eligible for a Certificate of Pedigree, but only if there is sufficient pedigree documentation verifying the horse is at least 25% Friesian.
Updating Status on Registration Certificates:
Approved for Breeding
Once a horse has fulfilled the requirements to be Approved for Breeding, the original Registration Certificate will be returned to us, along with documentation verifying the criteria has been met, and DNA test results, and a new Registration Certificate will be issued to indicate the new status of the horse. (Please check the FORMS & FEES page to verify the current cost of a reprint.) If the horse is already eligible to be Approved for Breeding at the time of registration, please include documentation along with the Application for Registration.
Elite Book (Performance Book) status & Mare Books
Once a horse has fulfilled the requirements for one of the Elite Books and/or Mare Predicates, the original Registration Certificate will be returned to us, along with documentation verifying the criteria has been met, and a new Registration Certificate will be issued to indicate the new status of the horse. (Please check the FORMS & FEES page to verify the current cost of a reprint.) If the horse is already eligible for one of the Elite Books or Mare Predicates at the time of registration, please include documentation along with the Application for Registration.
Membership
Membership is automatic when you register a horse with the Friesian Sporthorse Association.
Microchips:
Microchips are highly recommended for every horse, but they are currently only mandatory for horses being registered in Australia.
We recommend 15-digit ISO compliant 11784/11785 chips.
If your horse is already registered and you have it microchipped after registration, we will happily add your chip # to our database at no charge. Email us at FSAFriesianSport@aol.com for more information.
Note: Per USEF, beginning December 1, 2025 all horses competing at USEF-licensed competitions will be required (by USEF) to be microchipped.
General Policy, Procedure & Fairness Information:
Our paperwork and policies have been established (and updated when needed) to be as straightforward and simple as possible, while maintaining the integrity of the registry. In the interest of fairness our policies will apply equally to anyone/everyone registering or transferring ownership of a horse or participating in any of our programs. If we were to bend the rules for one person we would have to bend the rules for everyone and the registry would decline into chaos --and our reputation might be compromised as well-- therefore we will continue to strive to apply our policies and requirements equally for everyone while still providing the best customer service possible.
If you need special extra assistance -- for example with research, documentation, or procurement -- we may be able to assign someone to help you at a minimal additional charge. Please contact us.
Hostility towards any FSA staff or representative is not acceptable, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone at any time on these grounds.
Friesian Sporthorse™ is a registered trademark of the Friesian Sporthorse Association LLC. © Friesian Sporthorse Association, LLC. www.FriesianSporthorseAssociation.com ~ FSAFriesianSport@aol.com
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